Joss Whedon Calls ‘Planet Hulk’ Rumors “Nonsense”

Joss Whedon Calls 'Planet Hulk' Rumors "Nonsense"

Update (03/05/13): To add a further nail to the coffin, Joss Whedon was asked by IGN during a junket for “Much Ado About Nothing” as to whether it was true that “World War Hulk” and “Planet Hulk” would provide inspiration for future Marvel movies. The director responded “Well, I”m not really supposed to comment, but no, that’s nonsense.” There are denials aimed at keeping things vague, and then there are denials because something’s just untrue, and this seems to be the latter. As you were.

Rumor smash! Earlier this month, Latino Review dropped a pretty big rumor that suggested that among Marvel‘s Phase Two and Phase Three plans, to be set up at the end of “The Avengers 2” would be a standalone “Hulk” movie that would take its storyline from the comic “Planet Hulk,” in which our hero lands on the titular planet and becomes a gladiator and a king. But as green and huge as that may have sounded, it looks it may be dead wrong.

AICN has followed up the story and according to their “extremely well-connected source” (aren’t they all?) the scoop is “1,000% inaccurate.” So, what’s the issue? Well, the “Planet Hulk” storyline doesn’t feature mild-mannered, troubled nerd Bruce Banner at all, which means Mark Ruffalo would mostly be sidelined. That said, there are plans for a “Hulk” movie post-“The Avengers 2” but that “Ruffalo-as-Banner will be an integral part of that film.” Which makes sense, since you don’t sign up a guy of Ruffalo’s calibre and then put him off screen for most of a movie. And it has be said that while the hulking mutant was entertaining in “The Avengers,” his regular non-angry self was just as great.

So, there you have it: a “Hulk” movie is coming, but it won’t be based on “Planet Hulk.” Any suggestions for what storyline they should use? Let us know below.